AI conversations often center on coders, designers, and office-based teams, but what about the people who keep goods moving, shelves stocked, patients cared for, and factories running? They make up almost 80 percent of the global workforce, yet much of the technology talk overlooks them. In this episode of Business Technology Perspectives, I sit down with Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra Technologies, to explore how AI is being designed for the shop floor, the warehouse aisle, and the hospital corridor. Tom outlines Zebra’s long-standing mission to “deliver productivity at the point of activity,” and explains how AI fits into that vision. The company’s approach is not about replacing people but augmenting their capabilities, reducing repetitive tasks, and enabling faster, more accurate decision-making. We discuss Zebra Companion, the company’s AI-powered assistant for frontline teams, which features four dedicated agents for knowledge, sales, merchandising, and device support. Early pilots have shown strong adoption, with workers reporting greater empowerment and employers seeing reduced attrition. We also dive into the role of machine vision, 3D scanning, and RFID in driving efficiency across retail, logistics, and manufacturing. Tom shares examples ranging from automated shelf checks to high-speed industrial inspection, and from wearable cameras that guide item picking to omniscient store concepts that combine real-time inventory awareness with operational intelligence. The conversation goes beyond features and functions to focus on human-centered automation — the belief that AI works best when it collaborates with people, adapts to their experience level, and integrates seamlessly into their daily tools. For business leaders seeking ROI, we talk about where AI delivers measurable impact today, the infrastructure needed to support it, and the opportunities on the horizon for physical workplaces. If you’ve been wondering what AI can really do for the teams who keep everything moving, this episode offers a clear and practical perspective. ********* Visit the Sponsor of Tech Talks Network: Land your first job in tech in 6 months as a Software QA Engineering Bootcamp with Careerist https://crst.co/OGCLA